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FRANKFORT, Ky. - Republicans in firm control of the Kentucky General Assembly may hold a rare Saturday session to pass the first bills of the year and deliver them to Gov. Matt Bevin to be signed into law.

House Speaker Jeff Hoover, R-Jamestown, said passing the bills so quickly would “make a statement” that Republicans are serious about getting things done. Bills that could be voted on Saturday include banning mandatory union membership, repealing the prevailing wage law, requiring a woman to have an ultrasound before undergoing an abortion and banning all abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy.

Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, said Thursday morning that a final decision hasn't been made on the Saturday session. "There are a number of factors involved, including what the weather will be like," Stivers said.

Lawmakers opened the 2017 session on Tuesday. For now, the session calendar calls for them to meet through Friday, then recess until the session resumes on Feb. 7.

It takes five legislative days at minimum to complete passage of any bill. So if the new Republican legislature wants to pass any of its priorities and have Bevin sign them into law as soon as possible and without delay until February, the Saturday session would be necessary.

Stivers said that the move would not cost taxpayers because any day added for Saturday to the legislative calendar would be subtracted from the end of the calendar in March. Under the Kentucky constitution, the session this year can last no more than 30 days.

Rep. Rick Rand, a Bedford Democrat, said he opposes any move to pass the bills on Saturday. "It means there will be as little light shed on these important issues as possible," Rand said. "We have time and these bills need more debate and deliberation."

Tom Loftus can be reached at (502) 875-5136 or tloftus@courier-journal.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report.